Denise Welch has responded to a long-running social media theory about her gender identity.
The Loose Women presenter, 64, says her son Matty Healy even messaged her to ask why everyone online is saying she is non-binary, following years of lighthearted tweets about the star's gender identity.
Former Coronation Street actress Denise says "apparently I've been non-binary since April 2022" after revealing she did "a deep dive on Twitter " following the text from The 1975 singer quizzing her about the rumours.
"Matty texted me this morning going: 'Mum, why is everyone saying you're non-binary?'," Denise begins on the latest episode of her podcast.
People who identify as non-binary feel their gender cannot be defined within the margins of gender binary. Non-binary people tend not to identify as either a man or woman and often use they/them pronouns.
Denise continues: "So Tiff and I just did a deep dive on Twitter to find out and apparently I've been non-binary since April 2022 and there is no rhyme or reason why this started.
"But if you put in Twitter 'Denise Welch non-binary', I've been non binary for a year - who knew?"
The mum-of-three seems unbothered by the inside joke on Twitter about her gender identity and wraps up her story telling her co-host on the Juicy Crack podcast she was going to have a yoghurt pot for breakfast and moving on to a new topic of conversation.
Denise's son Matty isn't the only person baffled by the posts about his mum over recent years, with one internet user tweeting on Sunday: "Twitter got me actually googling whether denise welch is f***ing non binary."
The first tweet about Denise's gender identity appeared on April 11, 2021, when Twitter user @shirlpuzz wrote: "So proud of Denise Welch for coming out as non binary. It’s never too late!"
"Words can’t explain how happy I am that Denise Welch is non-binary. I’m sorry, but I can’t physically imagine the concept of Denise Welch being binary," another Twitter user added, with a third tweeting last year: "Denise welch being non binary has to be the funniest hun twitter joke, pure absurdist gold it always makes me chuckle."
Denise, who actually identifies as a cis woman, is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and often speaks out in support of marginalised people.
"I grew up with a father who’s a drag act," she told Pink News in 2016.
"My ex-husband [actor Tim Healy] plays a transvestite in Benidorm. My son is a pop star who wears make-up and is very metrosexual. And I have a million gay friends."
The Twitter account that kickstarted the 'Denise Welch non-binary' narrative shared a clip of Denise discussing the rumours on her podcast with their Twitter followers over the weekend.
They cheekily wrote: "The fact Matt Healy of the 1971 fame TEXT Denise Welch asking if she’s non-binary thanks to my cruel ways. I’m so proud of myself."
"I am in f***ing tears," one Twitter user replied, with another joking: "Can’t believe they confirmed it finally."
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